This is a carefully selected post-T60, pre-T410 model. I say that because I did not care for the feature, weight or battery options of the mainstream 14" models released after the T60, but corrected with the release of the T410 (integrated six cell battery plus great features). Basically, the R61, T61, R400 & T400 models didn't have the "I want it" feel of the T60 or T4x lines (or Z6x line), for me.

However, there were a few stand-out configurations. I felt those with the high resolution LCD, N wifi, higher end CPUs, webcam, SD card reader, DVD burner and 4 cell battery were reasonable machines. This R61 has it all!

As you can tell by the details on the screen, I installed a Penryn T8300 2.4GHz CPU (note the core voltage at 0.925) and an Intel X25-M SSD (note the WE disk score of 7.7). Yes, I used the modified Middleton BIOS.

Bottom line, this is a nice, fast and cool R61. It's also within millimeters thickness of the 14" T61, T400 models and nearly identical to T410 machines. The full specifications with upgrades are below.

Another nice one Ed! I really liked the R6x line and having worked on an R60 (unfortunately crippled by our IT folks), was enough to convince me that they were tough, well-built machines that could pretty much do everything when properly spec'd. I do believe that this might very well be a next project for me as well. I have a former student who's our current baby-sitter that's destined to be an engineering student of some sort who doesn't have her own computer. The family situation is such that there's no way they could afford it, so it would be a good build for me.....now that the "Ark" has been finished (mostly).

Hmmm, interesting, nice TP, but I like my T400. It was the last T series that incorporated design cues from previous IBM classic T series (i.e. T4x's and the T6x's) - the asymmetry, the cut off edge on one side, the latch on the lid and the keyboard, not to mention the almost magnesium bottom. The W/T520 has this weird plastic bottom akin to the R series, which I don't really care for/

Hmmm, interesting, nice TP, but I like my T400. It was the last T series that incorporated design cues from previous IBM classic T series (i.e. T4x's and the T6x's) - the asymmetry, the cut off edge on one side, the latch on the lid and the keyboard, not to mention the almost magnesium bottom.

Hmmm, interesting, nice TP, but I like my T400. It was the last T series that incorporated design cues from previous IBM classic T series (i.e. T4x's and the T6x's) - the asymmetry, the cut off edge on one side

Actually, T60 is symmetric. T4x are not entirely symmetric (15" more than 14"), but not as blatantly asymmetric as T/R61/T/R400.

The T4x had the curved right edge (where the DVD drive sits). T60/T61 did not. In T400 it came back, but the design was again asymmetric, with the left edge being flat. In T410 the symmetry was again improved - both edges are now curved.

That's a nice looking machine. I've had a few R series notebooks, including my current R60e. I liked them all. The R series is sort of the Rodney Dangerfield of notebooks - no respect, but are great all-around notebooks.